Xi'an, CHINA - 18 Sep `18Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Pathways

Official Title: The Gut Microbiome and Metabolic Activity in Patients With Vitiligo

In Brief: Vitiligo is a chronic depigmenting autoimmune-associated skin disease and a growing psychological health concern because of its low quality of life. Genetics, immunology and environment triggers contribute to the pathophysiology of vitiligo. Identify and decrease the risk factors of vitiligo is very crucial for vitiligo treatment and prevention. Emerging evidence has linked gut microbiome to human autoimmune diseases. Here the investigators will analyze 10,913 metagenomes in stool samples from 100 adult vitiligo patients and gut microbiome associated metabolites in patients serum.

Details: Vitiligo, an autoimmune disease of the skin, is a commonly acquired chronic depigmenting disorder characterized by loss of epidermal melanocytes and progressive depigmentation clinically, affecting from 0.5% to 1% of the world population and about 1% in China Vitiligo can be a psychologically crushing associated with low quality of life, especially in colored skinned individuals. The pathoetiology of vitiligo is multifactorial and has genetic, immunological, and environmental components. Several environment-associated mechanisms have been implicated to explain melanocyte disappearance, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure, repeated mechanical or thermal stress, and exposure to chemicals (especially phenols or catechols), but epidemiologic data remain limited.

Broader gut dysbioses have been identified as potential causes or contributing factors to human autoimmune diseases; however, human studies have not yet identified microbial compositional or functional triggers that are predictive of skin autoimmunity or vitiligo. Metabolites from intestinal microbiota are key determinants of host-microbe mutualism and, consequently, the health or disease of the intestinal tract. However, whether such host-microbe crosstalk influences inflammation in peripheral tissues, such as the skin, is poorly understood.

The investigators will perform a metagenome association study and serum metabolomics profiling in a cohort of vitiligo Chinese individuals.

Ages Eligible: 3 Years to 65 Years

Start Date: September 18, 2018

Completion Date (estimated): December 31, 2020

Status: Active, recruiting

Study ID from ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03797417
Other Study ID Numbers:

Location: Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China, 710032

Contact: To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact Qingrong Ni by phone +86 15109230226 ext +86 or by email nitina.tn@gmail.com. Please refer to this study by its NCT number. 

FAQOther Questions

  • What tests should be done?

    A well-trained dermatologist should be able to diagnose vitiligo and distinguish it from contact leukoderma or more than twenty other conditions with similar skin appearance bas...

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    Extracts of the tropical fern Polypodium leucotomos appear to have beneficial properties for the vitiligious skin. Polypodium leucotomos (also classified as Polypodium aureum) a...

  • What is vitiligo?

     Vitiligo (pronounced vit-ill-EYE-go) is a generally unpredictable skin disease that causes a gradual loss of skin color and overlying hair on different parts of the body. Cont...